Multiunit scaffold



1954 E. L. CLARKE 2,665,174

MULTIUNIT SCAFF' OLD Filed Aug. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l I nveuto r E tiwar [L L Elar RE A Ito meys Jan. 5, 1954' E. L. CLARKE MULTIUNIT SCAFFOLD 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1.947

Attorney:

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES? i AT EN T 2,665,.lld

OFFICE The present invention" relates to step multiunit scaffolds and it consists in thecombina tions, constructions andarrangementsof parts herein describedand claimed.

It-is an object of'the invention'to provide a; multi-unit scaffold, usable asa'step ladder which" is simple and econoniical'in its construction yet efiicient in operation.

Anotherobjectof the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement whereby one platform or section of a stepladder may be quickly and'easil-y mounted upon another'section-in such manner as to present accidental slippage :of thesame therefrom.

A further obj'ect'of the invention is to the provision oi-a multi-part step'ladder, the various.

parts of "which may be utiliz'ed alone or ineombination with one another.

A still iurtherobject of the -inventioniis the provision of a step ladder provided with a plurality of working platforms.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in assembled condition,

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevational View of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line i-5 of Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one element of the invention.

Generally, there is provided a multi-unit scaffold. formed of a plurality of table-like structures, all but the uppermost of which are provided with a board centrally disposed upon the top thereof and of a size corresponding to the area encompassed by the legs of the next uppermost table. Socket members are provided for the outer edges of the legs. The various sections may be individually employed or one or more may be added as desired. In each case the lower sections act as steps to allow reaching the next upper section and a very stable structure is had at all times.

Referring now more particularly to the draw with 'a' top I3,- i4and 15, respectively, a depen ent skirt it, it and I8, respectively, and four legs I9," 29 and 2!, respectively, such legs being of L -shaped cross-sectional area.

The tops I3, I l and I5 are of rectangular shape and to the lower section Iii is afiix'ed a board 22* of a size adaptedto snugly engage the inner edges of the legs 29 'of the central section It.

A like board 23* is -mounted upon the top it of the central section I! for snug engagement with the inner edges of the legs 2| of the topsection 12.

Brackets 24 are affixed to the tops l3 and it adjacent the boards 22"and 23 in such manner' as to "bearzagainst' the outer edges ofthe 'legs 2!]1and'2i when the same are inserted between" the "boards 22 and 23"and the brackets. The legs I 9 at either end "of the lower section or plat-" fo'rr'mare'interconnected by means of outwardly extending base members 25"." As will be noted from Fig. 1, the sections ill, H andl-Z 'w'hen'assembled provide marginally unobstructed steps or working surfaces which are plane, there being a set of such steps at each end of the assembled unit.

In operation, it will be apparent that the platforms may be made of wood or any other suitable material such as lightweight metal and that all sections may be telescoped together for shipping or storage purposes. For instance, it will be obvious from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 that the sections to, H and 52 can be nested one within the other when not in use. Thus; the skirts I6 provide a nesting recess for the section II and the skirts ll of the section II provide a nesting recess for the section I2. The platforms may be used separately or the central section H may be added to the lower section It by placing the legs 25 in the sockets formed by the board 22 and brackets 2 The top section I2 may also be added in the same manner, if desired. The base members 25 provide for additional stability in the structure, particularly since they extend laterally beyond the legs l8 and have contact with the supporting surface. It will be seen, too, that when using the bottom section iii alone or with the central section I l mounted thereon that the top I3 or top H! provides an area on which the user may move about without the constant necessity for readjustment as in the case of the conventional stepladder.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A. portable and knockdown multi-unit scaffold useful as a substitute for a stepladder especially in homes, ofiices and stores, and comprising in combination a plurality of elongated table-like platforms of successively smaller sizes at least as to length; said platforms adapted to be removably mounted and substantially centered one upon the other in order of size with the larger one lowermost as a base and the smaller one uppermost; each of said platforms below said uppermost one providing transversely coextensive plane and marginally unobstructed step-providing working areas extending inwardly from each end and said uppermost platform providing a longitudinally and transversely coextensive plane and marginally unobstructed working surface; a leg dependent from each corner of each of said platforms above said base platform, each of said legs being L-shaped in cross-sectional area, sockets carried by such of the platforms as are located below the uppermost one, said sockets receiving the leg ends of the next upper platform; each of said sockets being formed in part by a corner portion of a rectangular platform reinforcing board affixed to the top of each of said socket-providing platforms and in part by an L-shaped bracket mounted adjacent to and in spaced relation to the sides of a said board corner portion; and the ends of said boards located inwardly of the said step and working surface-providing areas of said socket-carrying platforms.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, and depending legs at each corner of said lowermost platform and providing feet, elongated supporting surface engaging base sections rigidly connected to the feet of adjacent pairs of said lastmentioned leg members and extending laterally beyond the same.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein said successively smaller platforms are smaller both widthwise and lengthwise, and there being dependent feet-incorporating legs carried by said larger platform, transversely and longitudinally extending skirt members connecting the legs of each of said platforms adjacent the latter, said skirt members of each platform providing a nesting recess for the inverted next smaller platform whereby the platforms can be conveniently stored when not in use.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein said successivel smaller platforms are smaller both widthwise and lengthwise, and there being depending feet-incorporating legs carried by said larger platform, transversely and longitudinally extending skirt members connecting the legs of each of said platforms adjacent the latter, said skirt members of each platform providing a nesting recess for the inverted next smaller platform whereby the platforms can be conveniently stored when not in use, and elongated supporting surface-engaging base sections rigidly connected to the feet of adjacent pairs of the larger base-providing platform and extending laterally beyond the same.

EDWARD L. CLARKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,256,996 Bales Sept. 23, 1941 2,278,894 Paulson Apr. '7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,910 Great Britain May 25, 1903 258,615 Germany June 22, 1912 333,832 Germany Mar. 9, 1921 

